Twilight's Threshold Chapter 823: The Mountain-Bearing Giant - Novel Cool

Chapter 823: The Mountain-Bearing Giant

Chapter 823: The Mountain-Bearing Giant

"Thirty-six Highway Bandits, so many?"

Upon hearing Hu Ma's words, Er Guo Tou was also taken aback.

Initially, after defeating the Three-Headed Serpent King, he was feeling exhilarated, but hearing about the unexpectedly high number of Highway Bandits suddenly increased the pressure.

Before his reincarnation, he had never counted the number of Highway Bandits, but after Long Jing Senior shot those seven arrows from Wrong Death City, it seemed that overnight, kings emerged everywhere.

Not to mention those with official titles and powerful forces, even the bandits in the mountains, numbering around twenty to thirty, dared to proclaim themselves kings, seizing a temple as their palace, descending to the village to capture Liu Lao Wu's wife as their empress, and taking his sister as a concubine.

In such a situation, it was impossible to distinguish between Highway Bandits and Mountain Kings, and who would have the patience to count them?

"Becoming a king isn't that simple."

Seeing his astonishment, Hu Ma smiled and said, "I don't know how many people there are, but once they claim kingship, they will immediately be crushed by the word 'king'."

"Of course, the methods of death vary. Some are targeted and killed by those with the true heavenly mandate, some die due to unexpected accidents, and some are killed by their subordinates. In short, the faster they claim kingship, the quicker they meet their end."

"Previously, our focus was on the capital, so we didn't pay much attention. The past few months were the most chaotic, with bandits and soldiers entangled, resulting in countless deaths."

"Those who perished in the chaos or were subdued by others had false heavenly mandates. Only those who survived with the word 'king' on their backs, living until the day of the Ten Surnames Incense's departure from the capital, are the true Highway Bandits."

"I only realized this after borrowing the Divine Seal left by Elder Jun Eyebrow. There are only thirty-six people in this world who claimed kingship but weren't crushed by it."

"If selecting an emperor were a chess game, these thirty-six people would be the pieces, sharing the heavenly mandate."

"Of course, just now, one of the thirty-six Highway Bandits has already fallen, and his mandate has come into my hands."

"As long as these thirty-six people compete for the world and one of them finally ascends to the throne, the mandate will be complete. Then, even the mandate on Yang Gong's body must be handed over to me."

"..."

The Ghost Walker Sect had diverse skills, and Er Guo Tou, who had some knowledge in this area, nodded and said, "That's quite a task."

"Do we have to protect the Grain Guard Army and kill the remaining thirty-four Highway Bandits?"

"..."

"That's not necessary."

Hu Ma smiled, "They won't stay idle among themselves, although most Highway Bandits are backed by others. Even if they are puppets, those who can sit in those puppet positions won't be simple figures."

"They will have a connection and are destined to fight, devour each other, seize each other's territories and troops, and who knows how many will be left in the end!"

"It's like big fish eating small fish, small fish eating shrimp, just waiting to see who grows into a giant and who forms alliances for self-preservation."

"Currently, based on the heavenly mandate, the Grain Guard Army is still relatively weak. Despite capturing Lake State, the White Armor Army of Gun Prefecture and the Iron Cage Army of Gua Prefecture have formed an alliance, placing them in the middle to lower ranks among the various Highway Bandits vying for power in the world."

As he spoke, he waved his hand and put away the Heavensward Sealing Seal, sighing, "Now that we've taken Lake State, this play has just begun."

"The real significance of defeating the Three-Headed Serpent is to let the world know that we're backing the Grain Guard Army, that we've chosen and are supporting the Bright King."

"Of course, we also want these reincarnates to see if the person we've chosen can win their approval and is worth their support!"

"..."

"We could have called for help or assigned tasks in the Spiritual Temple."

Hearing this, Er Guo Tou looked at Hu Ma and said, "But the path we're taking is the one you chose after seeking help from the reincarnates, deciding to support the Granary Protection General, and letting them make their own decisions."

"To be honest, what you said initially would naturally attract many people to help you. Why didn't you contact Tie Guan Yin or Miss Red Wine, who is most skilled in organizing various forces..."

"..."

"That wouldn't be a good idea."

Hu Ma understood Er Guo Tou's intention and slowly shook his head, "I know many people would be willing to help me."

"But reincarnates are free and unconstrained. It's impossible to find someone they all respect, so why force them together?"

"I've sent a request to the reincarnates and believe they won't ignore the suffering in this world. Now, I want them to see something else."

"I want them to know that the people in this world are worth helping."

"..."

When their discussion concluded, they saw that the Grain Guard Army had already settled the city's affairs. Unconcerned, they took Old Abacus and went into the city to find a household, giving them some silver to prepare a meal.

As the Grain Protection Army took over the Lake State's capital, it was the perfect opportunity to observe their ability to manage political affairs. Sweet Potato Burn, however, wasn't with the two leaders; instead, she was accompanying her sworn sister, happily exploring the city.

Collecting the corpses within the city, dispersing the defeated troops, occupying the government office, conducting a census, and managing the grain supply were all massive tasks that required dedicated personnel to meticulously organize.

Fortunately, the Non-Bull Sect had many capable individuals who could handle these tasks, albeit with some difficulty. However, the Grain Protection Army was now facing a significant weakness.

The problem was that few scholars and officials from the mortal world were willing to join them.

Various regions urgently needed administrators, and only the aristocratic families could cultivate such talent. However, the Grain Protection Army had not yet reached a level of recognition among these powerful families.

In simple terms, they lacked officials.

Being an official required a specific skill set, and most members of the Grain Protection Army lacked this expertise, having grown up in rural areas.

At the same time, in the government office of the Lake State capital, Bright King and Grain Protection General Yang Gong were discussing matters with Military Advisor Iron Mouth, Grain Supply Supervisor Xu Wen Sheng, and various advisors and strategists from the jianghu.

"Once we capture a place, we need people to manage it."

"The lack of personnel under our command is indeed a significant issue. The Non-Bull Sect is already searching for talented individuals to voluntarily join the Bright King's forces, so we don't need to rush."

"Now that we've left Bright State and made a name for ourselves, we should start thinking about how to conquer the world."

"Currently, under the Grain Protection Army's command, we have Bright State and Lake State. The people in Guan Prefecture in the north all died, but many civilians have moved there now, mostly our people. They are already planting crops, harvesting blood food, and repairing the city."

"The White Armor Army of Gown State and the Iron Gate Army of Melon State are also our allies. Establishing a solid foothold won't be difficult, but our biggest challenge is our unfavorable geographical position."

"Bright State is located in the heart of the Central Plains, with no obstructions to the east, west, or north. Only Old Yin Mountain lies behind us, so we don't have to worry about that direction. It's easy to retreat into Bright State, but if we want to advance, one Old Yin Mountain isn't enough. If we had a few more mountains, it would be ideal..."

"..."

Someone nearby frowned and said, "I thought Lake State was a good place?"

Iron Mouth shook his head with a wry smile. "Lake State is a blessed land for the Three-Headed Serpent, as it provides access to Gown State and Bright State. If they retreat, they can escape into the water to save their lives. But for us, it's not the same."

"If a powerful enemy attacks, we'll have to retreat into the water."

"So, this battle only earned us a reputation and a good place to train our water troops."

"However, if the Grain Protection Army stays within Bright State, it won't attract much attention. But as soon as they leave, they'll immediately draw the attention of others. There might be a powerful enemy attack tomorrow."

"..."

Everyone nodded in agreement. "Then, where should we go next, according to your plan?"

Military Advisor Iron Mouth pointed at the table, which was made by joining several tables together. It was covered with rice, representing the terrain of various regions, and small flags were stuck in it, labeled with the names of different forces.

This was the work of the Non-Bull Sect, using rice to create a sand table.

Iron Mouth pointed to a spot and said, "Head southwest and capture Teng Prefecture. This will give us control over the entire Eastern Mountain Region. With Old Yin Mountain at our back, water sources, and official roads, we can send letters to the Iron Gate Army and White Armor Army to form an alliance. This way, we'll have a solid base for advance and retreat."

"Moreover, by the time we're ready to march out of Bright State, I'll have already sent scouts there."

"I've heard that Teng Prefecture is naturally poor and only has small-scale bandits, so it should be easy to capture. Now, we just need to wait until we're well-rested and have scouted the marching routes, and then we can head north!"

"..."

Everyone felt relieved upon hearing this, and there were no objections. In the end, Bright King Yang Gong gave the order to immediately capture Teng Prefecture.

From this point on, everything went smoothly. The remaining tasks were just training the troops and deciding who would stay to guard Lake State and who would oversee Bright State. This was why it was necessary to bestow a kingly title before marching out of Bright State.

Naturally, after conquering a place, officials had to be appointed to manage the region. Without the kingly title, they lacked the qualifications to appoint officials, making it challenging to manage local affairs.

Just as the arrangements for Lake State were being finalized, and the Grain Protection Army was discussing when to set out for Teng Prefecture, a scout arrived with a report, his expression indicating he had seen something shocking.

"Strange, very strange!

"We were ordered to scout Teng Prefecture, and during the night, I dreamed of a giant with a snake-wrapped waist carrying two mountains. He said he was going to the capital, and the journey was long. When he reached this place, his legs were sore and his waist ached, so he wanted to rest here to regain his strength before continuing."

"When I woke up from the dream, I looked at the location, which was supposed to be a smooth road, but overnight, two mountains had suddenly appeared."

"The road to Teng Prefecture is now blocked, and our army can't pass through..."

"..."

"What's going on?"

"Such a strange occurrence, not only would it bewilder ordinary military leaders, but even the knowledgeable disciples of the Non-Bull Sect who had seen it all were left dumbfounded.

There are countless cultivation paths in the world, but how could two mountains suddenly appear overnight?

This is illogical!"

A tense atmosphere arose, and arrangements were made. The military advisor, Iron Mouth, personally led several fellow disciples from the Golden Armor Sect to investigate. But in just one night, they were truly startled by what they found.

On the way to Teng Prefecture, at some point, two enormous mountains had actually appeared, stretching as far as the eye could see. The mountains towered hundreds of feet high, adorned with lush green pines and cypresses, and dotted with peculiar rocks and boulders.

These mountains, standing tall and upright, had perfectly blocked the Grain Protection Army's path to the northwest, directly impeding their advance towards Teng Prefecture.

Even the military advisor, who had achieved numerous remarkable feats since joining the Grain Protection Army, was left perplexed. After traveling the world for so many years, he had never encountered such a bizarre phenomenon.

"Strange, truly strange."

Not only was the military advisor baffled, but even Hu Ma and Second Pot Head were astonished upon hearing the news. They left Bright State and hurried to the borders of Teng Prefecture to investigate. However, they separated from the scouts sent by the Grain Protection Army and did not travel together.

After seeing the two mountains, they were both surprised and skeptical. Second Pot Head even used the Yin-Yang Dual Vision Plate to examine the mountains, muttering to himself, "The mountains are real, and the trees are real, but the earth meridians don't connect. It seems they weren't born here."

"What on earth was transported here? When will they be able to rest and recover?"

"..."

"The abilities of those from the Illusionary Dao Sect have already reached this level?"

Hu Ma also found it peculiar and pondered over it. Despite his extensive knowledge, he couldn't think of any sect with such capabilities to create such a strange occurrence.

With a slightly heavy heart, he slowly walked forward, extending his palm and pressing it against the mountain rock.

Beside him, Second Pot Head furrowed his brows and grumbled. Suddenly, he turned around and saw Hu Ma's action, immediately letting out a deep sigh and widening his eyes in surprise.

However, Hu Ma merely pressed his hand against the rock and slowly withdrew his palm. Second Pot Head became anxious and worried, asking, "What's wrong? Can't you move it?"

"What is this?"

Hu Ma found the question strange and looked at the towering mountain, then at Second Pot Head, who seemed to be expecting something. He said, "Do you expect me to be able to move it?"

Second Pot Head replied, "You Year-End Guardians have great strength!"

"Is that a big problem?"

Hu Ma took a deep look at the two strange and bizarre mountains before him and slowly retracted his gaze. "Regardless, it's evident that this must be the doing of someone from the Ten Surnames."

"The Grain Protection Army's victory in Lake State was a great morale boost, and just as they were gaining momentum and growing in reputation, these two mountains seemed to have landed right on the Grain Protection Army's weak spot."

"Such an incomprehensible ability could only be achieved by someone from the Illusionary Dao Sect."

"Illusionary Dao Sect!"

He slowly raised his head and said, "But it's still unclear whether the Illusionary Dao Sect is setting up this challenge for us to fight them now or if they have other intentions."

The Illusionary Dao Sect is known for its nine false and one true technique, often ridiculed for its tendency to mystify and deceive. Yet, one must admit that occasionally, they do display genuine abilities, surpassing the expectations of ordinary cultivation sects.

When encountering inexplicable events, if one cannot understand them, it's natural to suspect the involvement of the Illusionary Dao Sect.

"This is indeed a difficult problem."

Second Pot Head wandered among the mountains, deep in thought. When they had previously fought in Lake State, he had been observing the entire time but never with such intensity.

For reincarnates, vying for and pursuing the heavenly mandate is a crucial mission. However, this task was assigned to Hu Ma's side, and they didn't necessarily have to protect the Grain Protection Army.

To them, the crucial task was to duel with the Ten Surnames.

Now that the Illusionary Dao Sect had drawn a line, breaking through their techniques had become a significant challenge. However, after witnessing such a grand display, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

The abilities of Hu Ma and his junior fellow disciple were already considerable among reincarnates, yet they couldn't see through the mysteries of these two mountains. What if someone else were to come along?

"Perhaps we should first invite the Red Wine Lady to take a look? She's from the Illusionary Dao Sect, so she might be able to discern something!"

As the two were discussing this, they heard footsteps from within the mountain. They looked up and heard a voice filled with both confusion and a hint of delight, "Down there, is that Brother Hu?"

Hu Ma also found the voice familiar and was surprised to see a figure emerge from the bushes.

The figure was dressed in a light green garment, with a smile on her lips and eyes filled with both excitement and shyness, as if hesitant to approach Hu Ma.

"You..."

Hu Ma was surprised to encounter her here. Finally, the young lady gathered her courage, slowly descended the mountain, and gave Hu Ma a light bow, her eyes sparkling with emotion. "Brother Hu, I'm Wu He. Thank you for saving my life back then..."

(End of Chapter)

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